Suspended furnace-roof.



W. J. REILLY.

SUSPENDED FURNACE ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9. 19.14.

Patented. Feb. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. J. REILLY.

SUSPENDED FURNACE ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9. 1914.

1,173,862. Peeeneed Feb.2`9,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WILLIAM J'. REILLY, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

SUSPENDED FURNACE-ROOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Tee., ae, raie.

Application filed November 9, 1914. Serial'No. 871,034.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. REILLY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of- Denver andState 0f Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspended Furnace-Roofsg and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin'g drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon of this rigidity of suspension, the bricksspall off at their working faces. This spalling continues until the suspending iron frame is finally exposed to the direct heat of the furnace, thus resulting in its distortion, and the failure of the roof as a whole, if the furnace is not taken out of service. In'constructionsL of this character, it is impossible to remove an individual brick while the furnace is working, in fact, the time when a furnace having this form of roof is` ready for service, is when the roof is intact. The failure of any one brick in the structure requires a shutting down.

In my improved construction, the supporting frame member is removed from the destructive heat of the'furnace, both when the furnace roof is vintact and when a brick has dropped out; by reasonI of the distance, the under side of the suspending member is removed from the heat of the furnace. My improved suspension means consistsv of a series of individual memberslocated as required, each being distinct and separate from its adjacent similar member, and

eachbrck is individually suspended in its required vertical position, and is -free to move in any .direction in response tothe changes 1n temperature. Agaln, eachk brick vis individually removable and replaceable,

while the furnace is working under heat, as well as whenY it is out of service. In fact, the whole brick roof structure is free to move as a unit in any horizontal or vertical direction, because of the clearance space provided in the side and end walls of the furnace, which space is filled with an elastic, compressible and non-combustible material.

The materials under treatment in a het furnace,-when this furnace is provided with an arch roof,y are notiuniformly heattreated, because of the varying distance of the face of the arch roof from the materials under treatment, the greatest distance being under the crown ofthe arch. In my improvement, the face of the roof or its under surface is transversely parallel with the bed or Hoor of the furnace, but it may, if desired, have a variable distance from the furnace bed in a longitudinal direction, whereby a uniform distance across the furnace is maintained, and whereby, if desired, a progressively increasing distance of the face of the roof from the 'furnace bed is available. This increasing distance is at'times advantageous because of the heating of the vgases as they move forwardly, resulting in their A requiring more space and freedom of movement.`

In my improved construction, each brick is to be providedwhere required, with a relatively small opening, beginning at the under side of the suspending member within the brick, and extending down to the working face of the brick. The intention of this is to provide a means of introducing into the furnace -and under thev roof where it is needed, streams of oxygen or other necessary gases. It may not be necessary to have each brick so perforated.v In any event, the perforated bricks may be of such number and so positioned with referenceto the object to be attained as to efficiently perform the required function,

Having brieiy outlined my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated `an embodiment thereof. Y

In this drawing-Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of. a furnace equippedwith my improved suspended roof. Fig. 2 1s a section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking toward the left. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of one of the bricks of which the walls.

roof is composed. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of one of the bricks with the suspenssion device attached. Fig. 5 is a view of the same suitable distance above the grate, is a numberv of suspension bars .8, which, as illustrated in the drawing, have the shape of an inverted 'l'. To each of these bars is connected a pair of hangers 9, each hanger having a projection 10 at itsupper extremity' adapted to enter an opening-12formed in the bar 8, each opening 12 as disclosed in the drawing, being of suficient size to receive the projections 10 of two of the hangers 9,

the said projections extendingat rightfangles to the body 13 of the hanger. To the 'lower extremity of each of these hangers is connected a brick 14, constituting a part of the roofof the furnace Whichyis composed of a' number of rows of Kthese bricks extending both transversely and longitudinally of the furnace.` A number of bricks 14 is suspended from' each' bar 8, andconsequently, the bricks suspended from a single bar constitute a row of bricks extending transversely of the furnace.

* As illustrated in the drawing, the two outermost bricks 14 of each transverse row, have portions 15 of their lower surfaces in engagement with shoulders or offsets 16 formed in the wall of the furnace. Each oil these shoulders extends beyond the engaging face ofthe brick. as shown at 17, and between the brick and the vertical face 18 of the side wall is located a filling 19 of some suitable elastic or compressible non-combustible material, as asbestos, which will ali low or compensate for expanslonln a transverse dlrection, of the entire transverse row or series of bricks suspended from a single bar 8. Furthermore, the bricks are slightly spaced-as shown at 20,. in order to allow for expansion without unduly compressing the adjacent bricks. ln other words, my improved roof is so constructed thatl ample allowance is made for expansion and contraction without in any way linjuring the structure from these causes. However, whenany lbrick becomes worn or when, for anyfreason, 1t becomes necessary to remove 1t and substitute a new brick, the construction issuch that this may be readily accomplished, as hereinafter explained.

rlhe upper portion-of each brick is provided With an opening 21 adapted to receive the lower extremity of the hanger 9, which is perforated aslshown at 22, to receive a locking pin 23, which is inserted in the'perforation of the hanger by introducing it into one of the open extremities of a transverse .the vertical it, practicable to easily disengageany brick from the roof of the furnace, without shutting down the furnace,

or reducing the heat, I prefer to construct the perforation 21 of such shape that it gradually increases in size from its lower extremity upwardly, thus making it practicable tok move the upper extremity 1,0 ofv any hanger, laterally a sulicient distance to disengage it from the opening 12 of its bar. v

8, such movement being in a forward or rearward direction, and at right angles to the direction of the locking pin 23,.which permits freedom of movement of the hanger in the direction stated, as the pin fits loosely in the perforation 24. i

As" illustrated in the drawing, the two hangers whose upper extremities 1,0 enter anv opening 12 of the bar, are inserted in the same from opposite sides, the projection 10; extendingat right angles to the body of the hanger, and vbeing of ysufficient length for the purpose.-

As shown in the drawing, (see Figs. 1 and 2), the `furnace has a'width equal tothe aggregate width of six of the brickslll, while the roof has a `depth from front to rear equal to the aggregate thickness of veight bricks, the rearmost brick of each longitudinal row or series resting upon a shoulder 25 formed on the-front wall of the furnace, the said shoulder being of sufficient 'lengthv to permit the introduction of a quantity of elastic or compressible non-combustible material 26, as asbestos, the construction in this regard being the same 'as that heretofore described When referring to .material 19 lo- 'cated between' the side bricks and the adjacent wall.V It must be understood, however, that the area ofthe roof may be of any suitable ,or desired dimensions, depending upon the required capacity of the furnace.

As shown in vthe drawing, every other brick of each transverse and longitudinally disposed row isprovided with a relatively small perforation 27 extending 4from the transverse opening 24 downwardly to the lower face of the brick. The object of these perforations is to make it practicable to l troduce into the furnace below thereof, streams of oxygen'or other necessary gases, which may be advantageous for the purpose of facilitating combustion, or the general eficiency of the furnace from a standpoint of perfect combustion. This vgas may be introduced into the upper compartment 2 8 of the furnace above my improved roof, and

of any kind may be caused 4to pass downs from this compartment, the oxygen or gases 'i wardly through the vertical openings 21, acrossl transverse openings 24 and thence downwardly through the relatively slnall perforations 27 into the combustion compartment of the furnace. v

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that when any brick forming an element of my improved roof has become worn or sufficiently injured from any cause, to make it desirable to replace it and substitute another therefor, this' may be easily accomplished, since it will be practicable for the person repairing the furnace to enter the compartment 28 above the roof, and work with comparative comfort during the operation of removing one or more bricks and substituting others therefor, even when the furnace is under heat. y

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the individual bricks of the furnace roof are independently mounted and removable independently of each other in an upward direction. In other words, the said bricks are liftably removable indep' ndently of each other. Hence: the arrangement of the bars8 with reference to distance above the bricks and spacing from each other must be such as to permit the bricks to be lifted upwardly from the body of the roof and then raised above the bars 8 by passing between they same. This will .necessitate a construction and arrangement which will harmonize with this feature, since by virtue thereof, 1t becomes practicable to remove one or more bricks while the -furnace is under heat and substitute another or others. therefor, without-shutting down the furnace or reducing its temperature. This is an exceedingly important feature in constructions of this character.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

1. A furnace@ roof composed of bricks spaced from each other to permit expansion, suspension means for the bricks consisting of stationary bars, and hangers forming supports forl the respective bricks, the hangers being detachably connected with the said bars, and the space between the latter being greater than the width of a singlebrick whereby each brick may be independently lifted upwardly between the said bars.l

2. A furnace roof composed of a series of individual bricks, and means for suspending the said bricks comprising bars extending transversely of the furnace and supported by the side walls thereof, and hangers whose" lower extremities are loosely connected with the bricks and whose upper extremities are bent to enter openings formed in the bars, the hangers of any two adjacent bricks being connected with the same bar andlhaving their upper extremities arranged to pass through the openings in opposite directions, substantially as described.

3. A furnace roof composed of bricks and suspension means therefor, the saidbricks each having communicating openings, one of which is vertically disposed while the other is transversely disposed, the vertically disposed opening increasing in size from its lower extremity, the suspension means being composed of stationary bars suitably spaced and provided with openings, and hangers whose lower extremities loosely engage the openings in the res ective bricks, while their upper extremities oosely engage the'openings in the stationary bars, to permit the independent removal of the individual bricks in an upward direction, substantially as described.

4. A furnace roof composed of a series of individual bricks, each brick having a vertically disposed opening increasing in size from its lower extremity, and a transversely disposed opening communicating with the vertically disposed opening, and hangers for the individual bricks, the lower portion of each hanger lentering the vertical opening of one of the bricks, and provided with a perforation, and a locking pin inserted in the transverse opening of the brick and entering the perforation in the lower extremity of lthe hanger, and stationary bars with which the upper extremities of the hangers are detachably connected to permit independent removal of the individual bricks in an upward direction, substantially as described.

5. A furnace roof composed of bricks spaced from each other to permit expansion,

suspension means for the bricks consisting of stationary bars having perforations therein, and hangers formingsupports for the respective bricks. the hangers being arranged in pairs, and the upper extremities of each pair adapted to be inserted lin a single perforation for the purpose set forth'.

In testimony whereof I aix my' signature in presence of two witnesses. I WILLIAM J. REILLY.

Witnesses: i

Moses KIRBY, A. EBI-:RT OBRIEN. 

